8799380

Routing and Displaying Messages for Multiple Concurrent Instant Messaging Sessions Involving a Single Online Identity

PublishedAugust 5, 2014
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method for routing instant messages, the method comprising: receiving a first instant message addressed to an instant messaging online identity, the first instant message received while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto an instant messaging system using a first client device via a first instant messaging session, and a second client device via a second instant messaging session, the instant messaging online identity concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system using the first client device and the second client device using one screen name and one password; responsive to receiving the first instant message, determining a first state of a first status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and a first state of a second status of the instant messaging online identity at the second client device; sending the first instant message to the first client device and the second client device; receiving a second instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity, the second instant message received while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system using the first client device and the second client device, and the second instant message received after receiving the first instant message; responsive to receiving the second instant message, determining a second state of the first status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and a second state of the second status of the instant messaging online identity at the second client device, wherein the second state of the first status at the first client device is different than the first state of the first status at the first client device and the second state of the second status at the second client device is the same as the first state of the second status at the second client device; and responsive to determining that the second state of the second status at the second client device is different than the first state of the second status at the second client device, routing the second instant message to the second client device but not to the first client device.

Plain English Translation

A method for routing instant messages: When a user is logged into an instant messaging system on two devices (device A and device B) using the same username and password, and an instant message arrives, the system checks the status of the user on each device. Initially, an instant message is sent to both devices. If a subsequent instant message arrives and the user's status has changed on device A but not on device B, the instant message is only sent to device B. This allows messages to be routed to the device where the user is most likely to see them based on their status.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include a user-defined state.

Plain English Translation

In the instant message routing method of claim 1, the user's status on each device (device A and device B) can be a user-defined state. So, instead of just "active" or "idle", the user can set custom statuses like "at lunch" or "in a meeting", and the routing decision uses these user-defined states to determine where to send the message. This provides finer-grained control over message delivery.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant message online identity include an active state.

Plain English Translation

In the instant message routing method of claim 1, the user's status on each device (device A and device B) can include an "active" state. The system uses "active" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is only active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered only to device B, rather than to device A.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an idle state.

Plain English Translation

In the instant message routing method of claim 1, the user's status on each device (device A and device B) can include an "idle" state. The system uses "idle" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is idle on device A, but active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered to device B, but may not be delivered to device A until the status changes.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an away state.

Plain English Translation

In the instant message routing method of claim 1, the user's status on each device (device A and device B) can include an "away" state. The system uses "away" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is set to "away" on device A, but active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered to device B, but may not be delivered to device A until the status changes.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the second instant message.

Plain English Translation

The instant message routing method of claim 1, which routes messages to devices based on user status, includes displaying the delivered instant message on the device it was routed to. This means after the system determines the correct device (based on status), the message will appear on that device's screen.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the second instant message to the second client device comprises: storing the second instant message; and responsive to detecting a specified date, sending the second instant message to the second client device.

Plain English Translation

The instant message routing method of claim 1, which routes messages to devices based on user status, also provides a delay mechanism. The system stores an instant message and sends it to the appropriate device only when a specific date or time is reached. This allows for delayed delivery of messages based on a schedule.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the second instant message to the second client device comprises: storing the second instant message; and responsive to detecting a change in the status of the instant messaging online identity, sending of the second instant message.

Plain English Translation

The instant message routing method of claim 1, which routes messages to devices based on user status, includes storing an instant message. The message is delivered to the device when a change in the user's status is detected. For example, a message might be held until a user changes status from "away" to "active".

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive a first instant message addressed to an instant messaging online identity, the first instant message received while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto an instant messaging system using a first client device via a first instant messaging session, and a second client device via a second instant messaging session, the instant messaging online identity concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system using the first client device and the second client device using one screen name and one password; responsive to receiving the first instant message, determine a first state of a first status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and a second status of the instant messaging online identity at the second client device; send the first instant message to the first client device and the second client device; receive a second instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity, the second instant message received while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system using the first client device and the second client device, and the second instant message received after receiving the first instant message; responsive to receiving the second instant message, determine a second state of the first status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and a second state of the second status of the instant messaging online identity at the second client device, wherein the second state of the first status at the first client device is different than the first state of the first status at the first client device and the second state of the second status at the second client device is the same as the first state of the second status at the second client device; and responsive to determining that the second state of the second status at the second client device is different than the first state of the second status at the second client device, send the second instant message to the second client device but not to the first client device.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores instructions to perform the following: When a user is logged into an instant messaging system on two devices (device A and device B) using the same username and password, and an instant message arrives, the system checks the status of the user on each device. Initially, an instant message is sent to both devices. If a subsequent instant message arrives and the user's status has changed on device A but not on device B, the instant message is only sent to device B. This allows messages to be routed to the device where the user is most likely to see them based on their status.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include a user-defined state.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, which routes messages to devices based on user status, implements status as a user-defined state. So, instead of just "active" or "idle", the user can set custom statuses like "at lunch" or "in a meeting", and the routing decision uses these user-defined states to determine where to send the message. This provides finer-grained control over message delivery.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant message online identity include an active state.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, which routes messages to devices based on user status, implements status including an "active" state. The system uses "active" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is only active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered only to device B, rather than to device A.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an idle state.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, which routes messages to devices based on user status, implements status including an "idle" state. The system uses "idle" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is idle on device A, but active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered to device B, but may not be delivered to device A until the status changes.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an away state.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, which routes messages to devices based on user status, implements status including an "away" state. The system uses "away" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is set to "away" on device A, but active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered to device B, but may not be delivered to device A until the status changes.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: store the second instant message; and responsive to detecting a specified date, send the second instant message to the second client device.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, which routes messages to devices based on user status, also provides a delay mechanism. The system stores an instant message and sends it to the appropriate device only when a specific date or time is reached. This allows for delayed delivery of messages based on a schedule.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: store the second instant message; and responsive to detecting a change in the status of the instant messaging online identity, send the second instant message.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, which routes messages to devices based on user status, includes storing an instant message. The message is delivered to the device when a change in the user's status is detected. For example, a message might be held until a user changes status from "away" to "active".

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. A system comprising: a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions, the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: receive a first instant message addressed to an instant messaging online identity, the first instant message received while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto an instant messaging system using a first client device via a first instant messaging session, and a second client device via a second instant messaging session, the instant messaging online identity concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system using the first client device and the second client device using one screen name and one password; responsive to receiving the first instant message, determine a first state of a first status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and a second status of the instant messaging online identity at the second client device; send the first instant message to the first client device and the second client device; receive a second instant message addressed to the instant messaging online identity, the second instant message received while the instant messaging online identity is concurrently logged onto the instant messaging system through the first client device and the second client device, and the second instant message received after receiving the first instant message; responsive to receiving the second instant message, determine a second state of the first status of the instant messaging online identity at the first client device and a second state of the second status of the instant messaging online identity at the second client device, wherein the second state of the first status at the first client device is different than the first state of the first status at the first client device and the second state of the second status at the second client device is the same as the first state of the second status at the second client device; and responsive to determining that the second state of the second status at the second client device is different than the first state of the second status at the second client device, send the second instant message to the second client device but not to the first client device.

Plain English Translation

A system for routing instant messages includes a processor and memory storing instructions to perform the following: When a user is logged into an instant messaging system on two devices (device A and device B) using the same username and password, and an instant message arrives, the system checks the status of the user on each device. Initially, an instant message is sent to both devices. If a subsequent instant message arrives and the user's status has changed on device A but not on device B, the instant message is only sent to device B. This allows messages to be routed to the device where the user is most likely to see them based on their status.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include a user-defined state.

Plain English Translation

In the instant message routing system of claim 16, the user's status on each device (device A and device B) can be a user-defined state. So, instead of just "active" or "idle", the user can set custom statuses like "at lunch" or "in a meeting", and the routing decision uses these user-defined states to determine where to send the message. This provides finer-grained control over message delivery.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first state of the status of the instant messaging online identity and the second state of the status of the instant messaging online identity include an away state.

Plain English Translation

In the instant message routing system of claim 16, the user's status on each device (device A and device B) can include an "away" state. The system uses "away" state to determine where to route instant messages. For instance, if a user is set to "away" on device A, but active on device B, any instant messages would be delivered to device B, but may not be delivered to device A until the status changes.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: store the second instant message; and responsive to detecting a specified date, send the second instant message to the second client device.

Plain English Translation

The instant message routing system of claim 16, which routes messages to devices based on user status, also provides a delay mechanism. The system stores an instant message and sends it to the appropriate device only when a specific date or time is reached. This allows for delayed delivery of messages based on a schedule.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: store the second instant message; and responsive to detecting a change in the status of the instant messaging online identity, send the second instant message.

Plain English Translation

The instant message routing system of claim 16, which routes messages to devices based on user status, includes storing an instant message. The message is delivered to the device when a change in the user's status is detected. For example, a message might be held until a user changes status from "away" to "active".

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

August 5, 2014

Inventors

James A. ODELL
Barry APPELMAN

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Cite as: Patentable. “ROUTING AND DISPLAYING MESSAGES FOR MULTIPLE CONCURRENT INSTANT MESSAGING SESSIONS INVOLVING A SINGLE ONLINE IDENTITY” (8799380). https://patentable.app/patents/8799380

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